Professional bassist and session musician Sean O’Bryan Smith has already had a career that many musicians long for. Throughout his twenty-plus years of playing, Sean has had the opportunity to perform for thousands of people and share the stage or studio with a number of artists including Billy Ray Cyrus, Anna Wilson, Sara Evans, Rodney Atkins, Steve Azar, and Rebecca St. James just to name a few. Now for the next phase of Sean’s musical journey he has taken on the role as recording artist with the release of his first solo CD for Groove Therapy Records “Tapestry.”
Sean’s musical career started in Chattanooga, TN at the age of 12. Sean is the son of jazz/blues singer Bebe Hannon and was raised up in a musical family. By age 15 he had begun playing professionally in Chattanooga’s local jazz scene and after high school moved out to Seattle, Washington to further his musical career. While in Seattle, Sean was actively involved as a teacher and playing locally and in 1991, he returned to Chattanooga. Upon his return Sean returned to the local jazz scene and re-formed the jazz/fusion group Ivory Punch with long-time musical partner Tommy Ogle. With Ivory Punch, Sean had the opportunity to open up for a number of jazz artists including Eddie Palmieri, Fattburger, Kermit Ruffins, and Medeski, Martin, and Wood.
As his musical career grew, Sean relocated to Nashville in 1999 as a professional sideman and Musical Director. In addition to his career as a touring sideman with a number of country artists, he has also been actively involved in Nashville’s jazz scene as bandleader for Transfer Records recording artist Anna Wilson for the last seven years. While in Nashville, Sean has also had the opportunity to open for jazz greats Roy Haynes, Kevin Mahogany, and the late Michael Brecker.
Groove Therapy Records release “Tapestry” is a return to Sean’s roots in jazz, blues, and soul. It features him on fretted, multi-string, upright, and fretless basses as well as guitar and keyboards. The CD transcends many musical genres and also reunites Sean with a collection of his favorite fellow sidemen including Jeff ”Skunk” Baxter ( Steely Dan, Doobie Brothers ), Jerry Marotta ( Peter Gabriel, Sarah McLachlan ), Rich Eckhardt ( Toby Keith ), and Ken Rarick ( Madonna, Cher ) as well as some of the Nashville areas greatest unknown players.
The initial responses to “Tapestry” cover the gamut of top radio personalities to legendary musicians and prove why Sean has become one of the most in demand bassists in the industry. Some of the responses are:
“…soulful, melodic, and unpretentious…..” – Bryan Beller, Bass Player Magazine
“Great groove, melodic phrasing, and flow on fretted and fretless…..” – Mark Egan, legendary bassist and solo artist
“……I’ve been riding in LA listening…….Sean plays his ass off….” –Carmine Appice, legendary drummer and Rock n Roll Hall of Fame inductee
“……Sean clearly knows his business.” --Benny Brown, Two time winner of Billboard's International Radio Personality of the Year
“…..an outstanding display of songwriting and musicianship….”--Lane Baldwin, Eden Electronics
“Tapestry” will be available April 1st for download on www.mymusicstream.com and available for order April 22nd from CD Baby, iTunes, and Rhapsody. Sean will also be performing at the CD release party for “Tapestry” at The Rutledge in Nashville, TN on April 18th. You can also check out Sean’s freelance writing articles and reviews in Vintage Guitar magazine, Premier Guitar magazine as well as his regular column on Music Business Survival at www.eden-electronics.com .
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